The soundtrack - an infectious blend of retro gospel, R&B and funk - often feels too breezy and soulful for this mundane affair, especially when it precedes scenes with pouty teenagers, even if they're world-weary sorts. - New York TimesEDIT

Emil Ben-Shimon's smart direction and Shlomit Nehama's lighthearted and topical script ensure the proceedings not only hit all the right notes, but also entertain while being respectful of religious traditions. - New York TimesEDIT

What's in a child's best interest? It depends on who's answering the question. That's the crux of "Gifted," the director Marc Webb's return to small-scale features after tangling with spidey. - New York TimesEDIT

If the filmmakers were aiming to mimic the flow of electronic dance music, they succeeded. The action slowly builds and breaks down, with dance beats kicking in periodically. Not much resonates here; it's all facile entertainment. - New York TimesEDIT

While Kim Kwang-sik deftly renders the fight and chase sequences, the film's unrelenting pace and tangled plot trump its limited efforts to address the feelings of despair or the broader moral issues at its heart. - New York TimesEDIT

While the film starts out as a seemingly fresh take on the romantic comedy, it is saddled with numerous contrivances and the clichéd trappings of the genre: big weddings, wayward souls and quick-to-judge elders. - New York TimesEDIT

While the story is a bit weak, the film does a good job of contrasting Korean-Americans who steadfastly adhere to the traditions of their homeland with South Koreans who have renounced old customs. - New York TimesEDIT

Tis intimate film, Ms. Delawari's first, is about ... her family's history (seen in home movies and photographs), the resilience of the Afghan people, and her own story of self-discovery as a musician. - New York TimesEDIT

Fortunately for the filmmakers, most of the comedians interviewed here - Jerry Stiller, Jackie Mason, Jerry Lewis and many other (mostly male) voices - provide lighthearted remembrances to elevate this poorly executed documentary. - New York TimesEDIT